Acceptable use
Preview terms: this is a working draft that may change before FOIAGen's general launch. The rules for using FOIAGen responsibly, so the tool stays useful for everyone who relies on it.
What FOIAGen is for
FOIAGen is built to help you find the right agency, draft a request to its rules, and keep track of deadlines and replies. It's meant for genuine public-records requests — by journalists, researchers, advocacy groups, law firms and citizens — not for anything else.
What's not allowed
Harassment: you may not use FOIAGen to harass an agency or its staff, or any other person. Impersonation: you may not impersonate another person or organisation, or send a request in someone else's name without their permission. Bulk unsolicited requests: you may not send bulk unsolicited requests, such as the same request to many agencies only to burden them. Anything unlawful.
Keeping the directory accurate
Agency rules change, and we check official sources daily, but if you spot a wrong email, portal link or address, please report it from the agency's rules card. Misusing that feature to submit false information is also against these rules.
Enforcement
We may suspend or close an account that breaks these rules, including bulk or harassing use. If you have questions about what's allowed, write to us before you send — we'd rather help you get it right than deal with it after the fact.